Reports: Connacht Close To Finalising Deal For New Head Coach

It looks like Connacht are close to finalising a deal for Pat Lam’s replacement.

The former Samoa captain made the shocking announcement last month that he would be leaving the western province at the end of the month to join English Premiership strugglers Bristol.

Since then host of names have been linked with the coveted job, such as Racing 92 coach Ronan O’Gara and current Grenoble boss and former Connacht hooker Bernard Jackman. It now looks as if Connacht have now found their man however.

SportsJoeare reporting that Clermont Auvergne assistant coach Jono Gibbes is the frontrunner to replace Pat Lam at The Sportsground this summer, with talks reportedly at an advanced stage.

Gibbes is currently working under Franck Azéma at Clermont and contracted up until June 2018 but would be allowed to depart if a head coach position was offered. Gibbes spend time with Leinster under Joe Schmidt and has been linked with the job for a number of weeks.

Gibbes as he served as Leinster’s forwards coach from 2008 to 2014 and won three league titles and three Heineken Cups with the Irish province.

Jason Hennessy

Jason is the editor at RugbyLAD. Any queries big or small you can reach him at [email protected]